Solar power project

[Delta Riverat]

I did the deed and ordered up the stuff.

Three 200W thin film panels, a 60A MPPT controller and some hardware, tools and extension cables. Halloween sale, 20% off -

Going on the fly Bimini, won't even see them. Going to use neo magnets on the panels (8 each) and series wire the set. Will add 20 pounds to the canvas and require no holes.

Once I figured out how to get them up there, the path was clear. Going to pull them over the top with strings with washers attached -

I love it when a plan comes together -

 

[kthoennes]

Thanks for posting - I'll be interested to see how your project works out. I've got a 13' x 14' bimini over my head doing nothing, and a 14' x 6' aft deck roof, also just sitting there doing nothing. Sure would be nice if all that square footage were productive.

 

[Delta Riverat]

Thanks! I'm pretty jazzed. The fly bimini you see to the left is way up there eh?

I have good hopes for the "strings tied to washers" plan. Toss the strings over, stick the washers on the magnets, pull and place more magnets as she goes until she is is up and then stick the steel disks on the bottom for the first 6, pull the strings off and stick the last 2.

 

[DavidM]

Since the Vmp is 24v and the Voc is 30 volts, three panels give a maximum voltage of 90 volts wired in series. That is enough to kill you. Standard DC wiring practices are not appropriate at that voltage. So be very careful installing and using those panels.

David

 

[SteveK]

@Delta Riverat
Why did you decide to go series instead of parralell. I ask as series is used to keep total voltage below the Mppt max volts, parralell allows three to operate independant, whereas in sweries all three are compromised if only one is shaded.

 

[Delta Riverat]

I don't think they will get much shading way up there.